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Tobacco Facts and Figures

Man's arm pointing to pie charts, bar graphs, and other charts on a computer screen.Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. It causes many different cancers as well as chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis, heart disease, pregnancy-related problems, and many other serious health problems.

Who smokes?

  • Each day, more than 3,600 people under 18 smoke their first cigarette, and more than 900 begin smoking on a daily basis.
  • In 2011, approximately 19.0% (43.8 million) of adults in the United States were cigarette smokers.
  • Nearly 20% of high school students smoke cigarettes.
  • In 2011, nearly 18% of high school boys were current cigar users.
  • From 2005 to 2011, the proportion of adult smokers declined from 20.9% to 19.0%.
  • Use this interactive map to get smoking data about your state.
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Each day in the U.S. 3,600 youth under 18 smoke their first cigarette and 900 youth under 18 become daily cigarette users. Of U.S. high school students, 18% report current use of cigarettes and 7.7% report current use of smokeless tobacco. Cigarette smoking accounts for an estimated 443,000 deaths per year. More than 88% of established adult smokers begin before 18. Talk to your kids today about the dangers of tobacco use and the benefits of living tobacco free. www.fda.gov/TimeToTalk

View an accessible version of this infographic.

 

Why is smoking harmful to smokers?

  • Cigarette smoking causes an estimated 443,000 deaths each year, including approximately 49,400 deaths due to exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • 8.6 million people live with a serious illness caused by smoking.
  • On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States, and 90% of lung cancer deaths among men and approximately 80% of lung cancer deaths among women are due to smoking.
  • Smoking causes many other types of cancer, including cancers of the throat, mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia.
  • People who smoke are up to two to four times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking also causes most cases of chronic obstructive lung disease.
  • Among youth who persist in smoking, a third will die prematurely from smoking.
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Why is smoking harmful to others?

  • An estimated 88 million nonsmoking Americans, including 54% of children aged 3–11 years, are exposed to secondhand smoke.
  • Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their lung cancer risk by 20–30%.
  • Secondhand smoke exposure causes an estimated 3,400 lung cancer deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in the United States.
  • An estimated 88 million nonsmokers in the United States were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2007–2008.
  • Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25–30%.
  • Secondhand smoke exposure causes an estimated 46,000 heart disease deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in the United States.
  • Children are at particular risk for exposure to secondhand smoke: 53.6% of young children (aged 3–11 years) were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2007–2008.
  • While only 5.4% of adult nonsmokers in the United States lived with someone who smoked inside their home, 18.2% of children (aged 3–11 years) lived with someone who smoked inside their home in 2007–2008.
  • Babies and children who breathe secondhand smoke are sick more often with bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections.
  • In children, secondhand smoke causes:
    • Ear infections
    • More frequent and severe asthma attacks
    • Respiratory issues, including coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath
    • Respiratory infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia
    • An increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
  • In children aged 18 months and younger in the United States, secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for:
    • 150,000–300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia annually
    • Approximately 7,500–15,000 hospitalizations annually
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Who uses smokeless tobacco?

  • 15% of high school boys use smokeless tobacco, and an estimated 9% of all high school students use smokeless tobacco.
  • 3.5% of all adults use smokeless tobacco.
  • Among the 50 states and DC, smokeless tobacco use was highest in Wyoming (9.1%), West Virginia (8.5%), and Mississippi (7.5%).
  • In all 50 states and DC, smokeless tobacco use was significantly higher among men than women; smokeless tobacco use among men ranged from 2.0% (DC) to 17.1% (West Virginia).
  • Data suggests that men, young adults (aged 18–24 years), and those with a high school education or less are more likely to use smokeless tobacco.
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How is smokeless tobacco harmful?

  • Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens).
  • Smokeless tobacco is a known cause of cancer; it causes oral and pancreatic cancer.
  • Smokeless tobacco is also strongly associated with leukoplakia—a precancerous lesion of the soft tissue in the mouth that consists of a white patch or plaque that cannot be scraped off.
  • Smokeless tobacco is associated with recession of the gums, gum disease, and tooth decay.
  • Smokeless tobacco use during pregnancy increases the risks for preeclampsia (i.e., a condition that may include high blood pressure, fluid retention, and swelling), premature birth, and low birth weight.
  • Smokeless tobacco use by men causes reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm cells.
  • Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, and using it leads to nicotine addiction and dependence.
  • Adolescents who use smokeless tobacco are more likely to become cigarette smokers.
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